Effect of high intensity interval training on arterial stiffness in obese hypertensive women: a randomized controlled trial

M.M. Taha, Y.M. Aneis, M.E. Hasanin, E.E. Felaya, M.I. Aldhahi, H.A.A. Abdeen

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia. momtaha@pnu.edu.sa

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• Obesity

OBJECTIVE: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The study’s overarching goal is to evaluate the impact of HIIT on arterial stiffness in obese hypertensive women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty obese hypertensive women aged between 40-50 years were randomized to group A (Intervention group, n = 30) or group B (Control group, n = 30). Intervention group received HIIT (4 minutes of cycling at 85-90% of peak HR interspersed with 3-minute active recovery time at 60 – 70% of peak HR, three times per week). Arteriovenous stiffness indicators, the augmentation index corrected for heart rate 75 (AIx@75HR), and oscillometric pulse wave velocity (o-PWV), as well as cardio-metabolic parameters, were assessed before and after 12 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS: Finding between-group analysis showed a significant difference in AIx@75HR (95% CI: -8.45 to 0.30) , o-PWV ( 95% CI: -1.14 to 0.15), total cholesterol, (95% CI: -31.25 to -1.12), HDL-cholesterol (95% CI: 8.92 to 0.94), LDL-cholesterol (95% CI: -25.35 to -0.06) , and triglycerides (95% CI: -53.58 to -2.51).

CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity interval training for 12 weeks has a favorable effect on arterial stiffness in obese hypertensive women and lowers associated cardio-metabolic risk factors.

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